21/01/2003

Families flee homes as loyalist feud escalates

Seven families were forced to flee their homes in north Belfast yesterday as the loyalist feud continued.

The families said they were forced to leave their Alliance Avenue homes after members of the UDA gathered in the area and subjected them to several hours of intimidation.

Independent Unionist Councillor Frank McCoubrey claimed that shots were fired at houses in the area on Sunday night. Another resident said the door of a house was kicked in as more supporters of the paramilitary group gathered outside local houses.

Police said extra officers and soldiers were drafted into the area on Sunday and a security presence was maintained throughout Monday.

However, one local resident claimed that police patrols did nothing as they were subjected to four hours of abuse and intimidation.

Elsewhere in north Belfast, police have arrested five people after a stolen car crashed into another vehicle which had stopped at security checkpoint at Twaddell Avenue.

The incident happened at a police and army checkpoint at about 11.45 pm on Monday night.

One person in the stolen car and one person in the other vehicle were taken to hospital, however neither of the two were seriously injured.

(MB)

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